Captain America: An American Icon Podcast 

Song: "Star-Spangled Man With A Plan" from Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger.

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Whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, the name Captain America is familiar to those living within and beyond the United States. The patriotic superhero has spent almost eighty years defending his country from threats spanning countries, planets, and galaxies. Being one of Marvel Comics' longest-running comic series, Captain America has captured the hearts of Americans no matter their age, race, gender, or class.

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What we will be discussing today is: what makes an icon. How does a man in spandex hold a shield represent American society and values? To do so, we will delve into the history of Marvel Comics and Captain America themselves. We will investigate how the title of Captain America has changed and what it means to wear the stars and stripes. This timeless comic book character can help us better understand what it means to be American.

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Captain America made his debut at Marvel Comics in 1941. He was created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon. His first uniform has a blue mask covering his face with a white A on the forehead. Above the ears are wings, similar to those of an eagle. His one-piece suit is blue as well with a white star and red and white stripes on the torse. This square-like shield had stripes and a single white star. His character is the simple personification of the American flag. His introduction coincided with America's formal entrance into WWII. The character, at the time, was used to motivate Americans to participate in the war in any way they could. This being, buying bonds to enlisting. Steve Rogers, the man behind the shield, embodied the type of American needed to win the war. Prior to assuming the mantle of Captain America, Steve Rogers was a scrawny man unfit for service. That was until he volunteered for a government experiment known as “Operation Rebirth”. This experiment allowed for Rogers to be transformed into the ultimate soldier. Captain America comics of the 40s leaned into nationalistic rhetoric.  Rogers’ unwavering alliance with his country, was weaponized to get people to serve. Comics generally hold a young fanbase, making young men vulnerable to Captain America's call to serve. Early Captain America mirrors another American icon: Uncle Sam.

By instilling patriotic sentiments amongst comic readers, the character is emboldening a generation to sacrifice themselves for their country. This superhero was not battling an alien or a god, he was fighting the third Reich A villain that was as tangible in reality as it was in the comics. The threat was not fictitious, which only increased the reliability of the character. And it made them want to serve even greater. The super-soldier that Steve rogers was an extension of military propaganda.

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The “real-life” threats Captain America had to face did not end after WWII. In the fifties, Captain America had a new villain: the Soviet Union. Captain America was considered the “commie smasher” and again was utilized as a way to promote the American military and anti-communist rhetoric. The United States, during the cold war and to this day, continues to favor capitalism. by making the “villain” the USSR, Marvel comics continue to instill values the government and military want their citizens to have. Just as young people in the forties were encouraged to serve as their heroes, they now will be motivated to participate in the capitalist system.

During the sixties is where the superpatriotism of captain America begins to fade. In this time, corruption within the United States and Civil Rights movement become front-page news. The United States could not turn away from its imperfection, and therefore neither could the comics. In the two decades Captain America had existed, he had been a symbol of American excellence. A beacon of hope and pride in the United States. With the Watergate scandal and the fight for racial equality has arisen, Captain America began to criticize the country in which is undoubtedly supported for twenty years. What makes this shift in how Captain America’s relationship with his country is portrayed so interesting is that Steve Rogers has never personally been affected by America's actions. His race and gender give him the privilege to easily support the United States. As a country that his demographic has always benefited from, his hesitance to its leadership is a stark 360 to how his character originated. His reputation was founded as the “perfect patriot”. One that everyone aspired to be like. Now, the hero is calling for civil rights. He is calling out the presidency. Readers of this era of captain America comics may develop a different relationship to Captain America than previous readers. As Captain America becomes skeptical of the law and leadership, so will people who consumed the comics.

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In 2015, the title of captain America was passed down to Sam Wilson. Wilson, with the alias Falcon in the comics, was a friend of Steve rogers. He was also a black man who served in the military. Unlike rogers, Wilson did not have the same call to defend his county. Being a black person in America, Wilson chooses to defend a state that had not always defended him. His run as Captain America addresses how we can fly a flag and feel patriotic to a country that has exploited you.

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Audio: "One World, One People" from Disney+ "The Falcon And The Winter Soldier"

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This audio clip comes from the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Captain America, now Sam Wilson portrayed by Anthony Mackie, addresses senators and reporters on what it means to be a black man proudly wearing the American flag.

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Wilsons’s character is not ignorant to his title. He is aware he will not be accepted in the same way Steve Rogers was. When Sam Wilson Captain America 1 was released, several articles and fan reactions voiced their dissatisfaction with Sam assuming the role as Captain America. Fox and Friends called the transition from Steve Rogers to Sam Wilson a “PR Stunt” in order to post readers. They criticized his run's new villain as he is American opposing immigration. They wondered why ISIS was not the villain for this Captain America. This hints to again, blind patriotism of the early comics. Just as Captain America could not accept it in the 40s and 50s, Fox and Friends did not accept An American hero fighting a problem WITHIN the state.

With much of popular culture becoming widely diverse and inclusive, as compared to that of 10 and 20 years ago, many have called this “forced wokeness”. Where basically characters of non-cisgender, heterosexual, white characters are becoming integral parts of media are only there to boost consumer ship. This mentality neglects to truly understand the need to diversify media. Representation matters. women, people of color, disabled people deserved to be seen and to be accurately portrayed. Sam Wilson becoming Captain America is more than just to boost consumers. It is to show a black hero fighting for America. With stereotypes of Black Americans being criminal or untrustworthy, it is crucial to break down the racism in our media. It may seem unimportant to have a fictional superhero to people who have never gone without representation. Everyone deserves to feel like a hero.

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It is important to distinguish the title from the person. Captain America is not Steve Rogers. Yes, Steve Rogers is Captain America, but he is the only one person who has had this role. Captain America is a title, not a person. But we so easily forget this. Steve Rogers has been the default for Captain America. Which this shows that the blonde-haired blue-eyed man is the defender of the United States. this hesitancy is yes backed by nostalgia. Most readers are most familiar with Captain America. But it is also rooted in comfort. People are conditioned to assume the white guy to be the hero, and when that role is changed, it is also met with backlash. By not accepting Captains who are not Steve Rogers, we promote racism in our media.

This goes against marvels mission in the first place. Stan Lee, former comic writer and creative lead of Marvel Comics noted that “Marvel has always been and always will be a reflection of the world right outside our window.” According to Lee, everyone has a place in the fantastical world of Marvel. No one is excluded to feel like a superhero. The trials in which these heroes face are those familiar to Americans. Or anyone in that matter. So, by regretting change, good change, in this ever-going story of Captain America, we're regretting the goals of marvels inclusivity.

An icon is the embodiment of a society's expectation of itself and those within that system. It is not a reflection of the reality we are living in. it is used to push sentiments or actions of those who consume it and generally are exposed to it at a young age.

For Captain America, he has always embodied an America worth fighting for. During his earlier runs, that America was a global, military superpower. He was able to rally those in support of WWII and the Cold War. down the line, he was able to call Americans to acknowledge the flaws in its system but still love your country. And recent, it has been a way to challenge the racism in our own media. By positioning Captain America as a world whose threats and conflicts are those reflective in reality, the comics are suggesting that THIS is the real way to be an American. Captain America's constant dedication and leadership make readers want to fight for a better America too.

Captain America is an icon because he is hope. Hope for a more just America, a more equal America. Thank you for listening to my podcast and have a great holiday season.

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Song: "Star-Spangled Man With A Plan" from Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger.

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